Quick Buying Guide

Diamond prices vary greatly as they depend on the combination of unique characteristics (4Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat). For best value, it's important to choose the combination that will reduce the price without having a negative impact on appearance.

Each shape has its own recommended balance of qualities that will give you the most bang for your buck. Below is a quick buying guide to give you an idea, but for more detailed explanation, please see the complete buying guides for the respective diamonds (links below).

Depth percentage for 1.5 carat
Oval
(8.75×5.83×3.56mm)

Depth percentage of Oval cut is the ratio of the total depth (measured from table to culet)
to its width. The total depth percentage of this diamond
is 61.1%, which is OK.
(Recommended depth percentage for Ovals is between 59% and
65%)

Depth percentage for ovals is calculated with the following formula:

Depth % = (total depth ÷ width) × 100

1.5 carat
Oval
(8.75×5.83×3.56mm) depth %:

Total depth: 3.56 mm
Width = 5.83 mm

Depth % = (3.56 ÷ 5.83 ) × 100 = 61.1%

Depth percentage for 1.5 carat
Oval
(9.39×6.09×3.92mm)

Depth percentage of Oval cut is the ratio of the total depth (measured from table to culet)
to its width. The total depth percentage of this diamond
is 64.4%, which is OK.
(Recommended depth percentage for Ovals is between 59% and
65%)

Depth percentage for ovals is calculated with the following formula:

Depth % = (total depth ÷ width) × 100

1.5 carat
Oval
(9.39×6.09×3.92mm) depth %:

Total depth: 3.92 mm
Width = 6.09 mm

Depth % = (3.92 ÷ 6.09 ) × 100 = 64.4%

About Depth Percentage

Depth percentage is one of the most important measurements as it plays a critical role in diamond's
appearance. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow, light leaks out, making
the stone less brilliant and fiery. Deep cuts also add hidden weight.

Diamonds that fall out of recommended depth range are generally less desirable
and usually best to be avoided.

Face-up size evaluation for 1.5 carat Oval
(8.75×5.83×3.56mm)

The face-up size of this 1.5 carat Oval
(8.75×5.83×3.56mm) is slightly out of normal range for
1.5ct diamonds of this shape. Compared to 1.5
carat Oval reference diamond,
this diamond appears a bit too small when viewed from the top, which means it's
probably a borderline chubby.

A chubby is a diamond with hidden extra weight that looks smaller than it should when
viewed from the top. Hidden weight is typically a result of a poor cut usually linked to oversized
girdle, deeper pavilion, and/or steeper crown.

In order to maximize profits, diamond cutters tend to retain as much weight from the rough
as possible. This practice, however, can have detrimental effects on the stone's face-up
size and its optical qualities. Poorly proportioned stones look duller and sparkle less than
well cut stones. Chubby stones also look smaller.

The bottom line:
One should never sacrifice beauty for weight.
You probably don't want to pay for extra weight that doesn't add anything to the beauty.
You want a stone that looks its weight. Sizewise, this 1.5ct Oval looks like a well cut 1.25ct Oval.

1.5 carat Oval reference diamond

Since there are no specific ideal proportions defined for Oval cuts,
an estimation formula is used to calculate the Oval reference diamond.

Parameters:

Weight:

1.5ct

Depth:

61%

L/W ratio:

1.5

Calculated values:

Length:

9.29 mm

Width:

6.19 mm

Depth:

3.78 mm

*Est. face-up area:

47.15 mm²

Note: Oval diamonds with face-up area of within 9% lower
and 12% higher than reference Oval diamond area
are considered to be of adequate face-up size.

* Estimated Face-up area: Face-up area of Oval cuts
is only an estimation (±5%). Due to uniqueness of each stone,
it's impossible to accurately calculate face-up area given only a diamond's measurements.

Face-up size evaluation for 1.5 carat Oval
(9.39×6.09×3.92mm)

The face-up size of this 1.5 carat Oval
(9.39×6.09×3.92mm) is within the normal range for
1.5ct diamonds of this shape.
Compared to 1.5ct
Oval reference diamond (see below), this diamond is of adequate
size when viewed from the top. In short, all is OK, this diamond looks its weight.

The importance of face-up size

Diamonds are sold by weight (carats), but it's important to understand that
weight doesn't equally translate into physical size, especially spread. Two
diamonds of the same carat weight can vary greatly in spread, meaning that one
diamond can appear larger than the other, even though they weight exactly the same.

Proper face-up size should play an important role when buying a diamond.
When a diamond is set in a ring, your eyes will only see the face-up area,
so you should make sure it's of adequate size. Adequate size also indicates a good cut, meaning better light performance. For example, if given a choice between a poorly cut 1.5 carat Oval with less sparkle and the same face-up size as a well cut 1.4ct Oval, which one would you choose?

The bottom line:
A diamond must look its weight. This one does. Thumbs up.

1.5 carat Oval reference diamond

Since there are no specific ideal proportions defined for Oval cuts,
an estimation formula is used to calculate the Oval reference diamond.

Parameters:

Weight:

1.5ct

Depth:

61%

L/W ratio:

1.5

Calculated values:

Length:

9.29 mm

Width:

6.19 mm

Depth:

3.78 mm

*Est. face-up area:

47.15 mm²

Note: Oval diamonds with face-up area of within 9% lower
and 12% higher than reference Oval diamond area
are considered to be of adequate face-up size.

* Estimated Face-up area: Face-up area of Oval cuts
is only an estimation (±5%). Due to uniqueness of each stone,
it's impossible to accurately calculate face-up area given only a diamond's measurements.

Face-up Area per Carat

Face-up area per carat is calculated by dividing face-up area of the diamond with
its carat weight. It tells you how many square millimeters of the top surface area
a diamond is showing or would show for 1 carat weight. This can be useful when comparing stones
of similar weights as it tells you how much spread per carat you will get.

Note: Face-up size does not linearly grow with carat weight,
which means the heavier the stone, the smaller its face-up area per carat (e.g., 1ct stone will have
higher face-up area per carat than 2ct stone).

Face-up area per carat
for 1.5ct Oval (8.75×5.83×3.56mm):

Top surface area = 41.83 mm²Weight = 1.5ct

Face-up area per carat = 41.83 ÷ 1.5 =
27.89mm²/ct

Face-up area per carat
for 1.5ct Oval (9.39×6.09×3.92mm):

Top surface area = 46.89 mm²Weight = 1.5ct

Face-up area per carat = 46.89 ÷ 1.5 =
31.26mm²/ct

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